Wellesley Softball Sweeps NEWMAC-Rival MIT

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- The Wellesley College softball team nabbed a doubleheader sweep against NEWMAC-rival MIT on Friday afternoon in Wellesley. The Blue won the opener 4-1, and then took game two, 6-1.

The wins lift Wellesley to 12-6 overall, 4-2 in NEWMAC play. MIT dips to 11-6, and evens its NEWMAC record at 2-2.

MIT got on the board first, manufacturing a run in the top of the second inning. Leah Alpert led off with a single, was advaced to second on a groundout and then stole third, setting up an RBI single to right from K.K. Wopat.

Wellesley answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning, backed by four hits to make it 3-1. After MIT got the first two outs, Mariah Philips started the rally with a single and was knocked home on a triple from Maria LaBouyer. Carly Bresee then laced an RBI double to right center, while an Abby Casey single drove in the third run of the frame.

Wellesley added to the lead with a run in the bottom of the fourth. Philips led off with a walk, stole second, and then advanced to third on a sacrifice from LaBouyer. A Bresee infield single combined with an MIT throwing error allowed Philips to score.

With a 4-1 lead, the Blue turned to Goldfarb, who retired nine of the next 10 batters to seal the victory. She finished the afternoon with seven innings pitched, allowing one run on four hits with two strikeouts and a walk.

Bresee, Casey, and LaBouyer each recorded two hits and an RBI for the Blue, while Kimberly Cabral added a triple in the win.

The Engineer offense was led by Wopat who picked up a single and an RBI. Alexandra Marshall, Sarah Van Belleghem, Alpert added singles for MIT.

In the circle for the visitors, Ellie Fodor suffered the loss, throwing the first two innings, allowing three runs on six hits with three strikeouts. Marshall had a solid outing in relief, throwing four innings allowing just an unearned run on four hits with five strikeouts.

MIT also struck first in game two, as Sarah Van Belleghem doubled, advanced on a groundout, and scored on a passed ball. Wellesley answered with a pair in the bottom of the second, started with a sacrifice from Jaclyn Tsang that plated LaBouyer, who singled earlier. Elizabeth Murphy scored on a wild pitch to give Wellesley a 2-1 lead, after reaching on an infield single.

The hosts extended their lead to 5-1 with a three-run fourth inning. Wellesley again used a two-out rally, as a single up the middle from Casey plated Murphy, who reached on a single, and Tsang, who was hit by a pitch. Cabral then drove in the third run of the inning, with her RBI single scoring Casey.

The Blue got an insurance run from a solo homerun off the bat of Tsang in the bottom of the sixth, making it 6-1. Lindsay Johnson then worked around a lead-off single in the top of the seventh, with the Blue turning a double play to end the game.

Jayne Ellis, Cabral, and Murphy each recorded two hits for the Blue in game tow, with Casey and Tsang adding two RBI. Johnson went the distance to earn her third win, throwing seven innings, allowing one run off six hits with four strikeouts.

MIT's Van Bellegham and Fodor each recorded multi-hit efforts for the Engineers. Marshall suffered the loss, throwing six innings, allowing six runs on nine hits with three strikeouts.

Wellesley is back in action tomorrow, traveling to Smith for another NEWMAC doubleheader. MIT also plays a pair of conference games tomorrow, hosting Wheaton. Both match-ups begin at 12:00pm.